Vehicular function control using sensing device with backlit icons

ABSTRACT

A method for generating an output for controlling a vehicular function of a vehicle includes providing (i) a vehicular sensing device having at least one illumination source operable to backlight a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a respective vehicle function, and (ii) a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a respective field of sensing associated with a respective icon of the plurality of icons. With the vehicular sensing device disposed at a vehicle, and with the at least one illumination source activated to backlight the plurality of icons, the backlit icons are viewable at an exterior portion of the vehicle, and the sensors sense movement of a person&#39;s hand or foot in a field of sensing of one of the sensors, and a controller generates an output to control the vehicular function that is represented by the respective backlit icon associated with that sensor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/819,668, filed Mar. 16, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,889,265,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/127,810,filed Sep. 21, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,589,716, which is a 371national phase filing of PCT Application No. PCT/US2015/022398, filedMar. 25, 2015, which claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 62/089,543, filed Dec. 9, 2014, Ser. No.62/011,206, filed Jun. 12, 2014, Ser. No. 62/008,098, filed Jun. 5,2014, and Ser. No. 61/970,582, filed Mar. 26, 2014, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to illumination modules for vehicles and,more particularly, to an illumination module that projects an icon orimage onto the ground at or near the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide illumination or light sources at the side of thevehicle, such as to provide security lighting or convenience lighting atthe side of the vehicle. For example, such lighting devices aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,349,450; 6,550,103; 5,371,659; 5,669,699;5,823,654 and 5,497,305, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. Typically, such lighting devices provideillumination along the side of the vehicle and down to the ground at theside of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an illumination and sensing module ordevice for a vehicle, such as for an exterior mirror assembly, forproviding illumination at the side or rear door of the vehicle, and forsensing the presence of a person or person's foot at an icon projectedtowards the ground by the vehicle.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle functioncontrol system includes a sensing and projecting module disposed at anexterior portion of the vehicle and having at least one illuminationsource operable to project a plurality of icons onto one of (i) a groundarea at or near the vehicle and (ii) an exterior surface of the vehicle.Each of the projected icons is representative of a respective vehiclefunction. The sensing and projecting module comprises a sensing deviceoperable to sense the presence of a user at or near one of the projectedicons to determine which of the projected icons is being selected by theuser. A control (which may be part of the sensing and projecting moduleand/or may be part of a vehicle control module, such as a body controlmodule of the vehicle or the like) is responsive to an output of thesensing device and, responsive to determination of the user at or near aselected particular projected icon, the control is operable to control afunction of the vehicle associated with the selected particularprojected icon.

Optionally, the illumination source may comprise at least one lightemitting diode, and/or the illumination source may comprise a pluralityof illumination sources or light emitting diodes, each associated with arespective one of the icons. The control may be operable to flash one ofthe illumination sources when a user is determined to be present at ornear the selected projected icon associated with that illuminationsource.

Optionally, the sensing and projecting module may comprise asubstantially sealed module. The plurality of projected icons may eachassociated with a respective one of (i) a vehicle door opening andclosing function, (ii) a vehicle window opening and closing function and(iii) a vehicle door locking and unlocking function. The control may beoperable to activate the illumination source responsive to a passiveentry system or keyless entry system of the vehicle. Optionally, thevehicle function control system may comprise a plurality of sensing andprojecting modules, with the sensing and projecting modules disposed atrespective ones of (i) a lift gate of the vehicle, (ii) a driver sideexterior mirror of the vehicle and (iii) a passenger side exteriormirror of the vehicle.

Thus, the system or systems of the present invention projects aplurality of icons on the ground at or near the vehicle (such as at ornear the sides and/or rear of the vehicle), whereby a user may placetheir foot at or on a selected icon to activate or control an accessoryor function associated with that icon. For example, the user may step orotherwise move or position themselves at or on or near an icon (whichmay be projected onto the ground or portion of the vehicle at the rearor lift gate of the vehicle) representative of a side sliding door ofthe vehicle to open the side sliding door of the vehicle. The system maydetermine which of the icons the user selects by determining thepresence or proximity of the user's foot at or near the particular iconsprojected by the projection module.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with a projectionlight module in accordance with aspects of the present invention, whichprojects icons onto the ground by the vehicle, whereby a user mayactuate a vehicle function by stepping at or on a respective one of theicons;

FIGS. 2-7 are top plan views of a vehicle equipped with a projectionlight module and sensing system in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention, showing how a user may open and close a door of thevehicle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic of a system utilizing a sensing and projectingmodule in accordance with aspects of the present invention incommunication with a body control module;

FIG. 9 is a schematic of a system utilizing another sensing andprojecting module in accordance with aspects of the present invention incommunication with a body control module;

FIG. 10 is a schematic of a system utilizing another sensing andprojecting module in accordance with aspects of the present invention incommunication with a body control module;

FIG. 11 is a schematic of a system utilizing a plurality of sensing andprojecting modules in accordance with aspects of the present inventionin communication with a body control module;

FIG. 12 is a schematic of a system utilizing a plurality of sensing andprojecting modules in accordance with aspects of the present inventionin communication with a human-machine interface (HMI) system controller,which communicates with a body control module;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the sequence of events during operationof a sensing and projecting module in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention, shown with feedback control provided in the module;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the sequence of events during operationof a sensing and projecting module in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention, shown with feedback control provided in the bodycontrol module;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of a vehicle equipped with a projectionlight module in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged side elevation of the side of the vehicle of FIG.15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an exterior rearview mirror assembly,with a projecting light module of the present invention, shown with twosensors and two projection lights;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an exterior rearview mirror assembly,with a projecting light module of the present invention, shown with onecamera or sensor and two projection lights;

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the exterior rearview mirrorassembly of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with a projectingand sensing module of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a projecting and sensing module of thevehicle of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with abacklighting/projecting and sensing module of the present invention,shown with the backlighting/projecting and sensing modules disposed at apassenger side rocker panel and at the rear bumper of the vehicle;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower region of thevehicle of FIG. 23, showing the backlit icons at the vehicle rockerpanel;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the backlighting/projecting and sensingmodule of the present invention, shown at a lower portion or rockerpanel of a vehicle;

FIG. 26 is an exploded view of the backlighting/projecting and sensingmodule of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a side elevation of the backlighting/projecting and sensingmodule of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27A is a sectional view of the backlighting/projecting and sensingmodule, taken along the line A-A of FIG. 27;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged sectional view of the backlighting/projecting andsensing module of FIG. 27A;

FIG. 29 is another sectional view of the backlighting/projecting andsensing module, shown at the vehicle and with a person viewing thebacklit icons; and

FIG. 30 is a flow chart of the projecting/backlighting and sensingsystem in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, projecting and sensing module may be disposed at a vehicle(such as at the lift gate or rear portion of the vehicle and/or at aside portion of the vehicle, such as at an exterior rearview mirrorassembly or the like at a side and exterior portion of the vehicle, withthe projecting and sensing module being operable to project a pluralityof icons onto the ground (or portion of the vehicle) and being operableto sense an approach of a user's hand or foot at the respective icons.Responsive to such a sensing or determination, the projecting andsensing module generates a signal to control an accessory or functionrepresented by the respective icon. For example, if one of the iconsrepresents a side sliding door of the vehicle, the system and projectingand sensing module may determine when a person's foot is at that iconand, responsive to such a determination, the system may open (or close)the side sliding door of the vehicle. The illumination module mayutilize aspects of the illumination module described in U.S. Pat. No.8,801,245 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/615,821, filed Feb.6, 2015 and published Aug. 13, 2015 as U.S. Publication No.US-2015-0224919, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

The projecting module may include or may be associated with a sensor orsensing device that is operable to sense or detect the presence of auser (or foot of a user) at one or more icons projected by the module,whereby, responsive to detection of the user at the icon, the vehiclemay actuate one or more vehicle functions or accessories or systems(such as a door unlock function or a door or lift gate open function orthe like). For example, and with reference to FIG. 1, a vehicle mayinclude an illumination module (such as at the rear door or lift gate ofthe vehicle, and/or at the side exterior mirrors or side doors of thevehicle) that is operable to project a plurality of icons onto theground or vehicle surface at the rear (or side) of the vehicle. Theicons are representative of a particular vehicle function. In theillustrated embodiment, for example, the icons indicate a doorlock/unlock function, a door open/close function (such as for a sidesliding door or the like), a second door open/close function (such as arear lift gate open/close function) and a window open/close function(such as for opening a window of a side door of the vehicle or openingthe glass window portion of a two part rear lift gate or tail gate orthe like). A sensor or sensing device, such as an infrared sensor, alaser sensor or a camera or the like, is operable to determine when auser steps or moves in a manner so as to select one of the projectedicons, and responsive to such detection, the control system is operableto actuate that selected/detected function. The sensors and control maycomprise any suitable sensing means, and may determine the presence ormovement of the user at or near the icons, such as via a capacitivesensor or proximity sensor and/or motion control system and/or gesturecontrol system.

For example, and with further reference to FIGS. 2-7, a vehicle equippedwith an illumination and sensing and control system of the presentinvention may, responsive to determination that a user of the vehicle isapproaching the vehicle (such as in response to a passive entry systemor keyless entry system detecting a passive entry device or fob carriedby the user), actuate the illumination modules (shown at the sidemirrors and at the rear door of the vehicle) to project the icons ontothe ground at the sides and rear of the vehicle (FIG. 2) or optionallyonto a vehicle surface (such as a vehicle panel or vehicle bumper or thelike). Optionally, all of the illumination modules may be activated toproject the icons or only the illumination module or modules that areclosest to the detected user may be activated to project the icons. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the projected icons are associated with adoor lock/unlock function, a driver side slider door open/closefunction, a passenger side slider door open/close function and a rearlift gate open/close function (although other functions may be providedby a projection light and sensing system of the present invention).

The user may step or move in a manner so as to select one of the icons,such as, for example, the side slider door open icon (FIG. 3).Responsive to the sensor sensing the presence of the user's foot at theground at the location where the projected icon is projected towards oronto (so as to select the icon and activate the associated function),the illumination module may optionally change the color of that icon tovisually confirm to the user that the system recognized actuation by theuser of that function. As shown in FIG. 4, the system then performs theselected function, such as opening the passenger side slider door.

The user (in this example, the eventual driver of the vehicle) may(after actuating the side door via stepping on the icon) walk around thevehicle to the driver-side door, where the icons are also projected ontothe ground or vehicle surface, and may step or move in a manner so as toselect the passenger side slider door open/close icon to cause thepassenger side slider door to close (FIG. 5). Again, the selected iconmay change color or may flash or the like to confirm to the user thatthe selection was recognized by the system. The user may then enter thevehicle (such as shown in FIG. 6 and such as via manually opening thedriver door or via an icon that controls that function) and the systemmay deactivate the illumination module and sensing system (FIG. 7), suchas responsive to the driver entering the vehicle or closing the driverdoor or starting the vehicle or the like. If the user had initiallyapproached the driver side door in this example, the user may havestepped on or otherwise selected the passenger side slider door icon afirst time to open the passenger side slider door and, after the otherperson got into the vehicle through the passenger side slider door, theuser may have stepped on or otherwise selected the passenger side sliderdoor icon a second time to close the passenger side slider door.

In the illustrated embodiment, the illumination or projecting andsensing module is operable to project the plurality of icons onto theground area at or near the rear and/or sides of the vehicle. The sensingdevice thus may sense the presence of a user's foot at or near theground area onto which a particular icon is projected. Optionally, themodule may be operable to project the icons onto a panel or portion ofthe vehicle. For example, the module may project the icons onto a panelof the vehicle or onto the rear bumper of the vehicle (for a rear orlift gate mounted module). Optionally, the icons may be projected onto areflective sheet or material (optionally under a clear coat layer or thelike) to enhance visibility and viewability of the icons, such as duringdaytime lighting conditions. For example, the icons may be viewable at areflective sheet at the upper surface of the vehicle bumper (or otherstrategic location at or on or around the vehicle) and the sensingdevice may determine when a user's foot is moved to a location at ornear the ground below a particular one of the displayed or projectedicons at the bumper. Thus, the system may show icons reflected atvehicle surfaces with the activation points or locations at or near theground.

An exemplary illumination and sensing and control system of the presentinvention thus provides user actuatable inputs at the ground at or nearthe side/rear of the vehicle. The icons may be projected responsive to adetermination by the vehicle system (such as a passive entry system orvision system or the like) that a user (who is recognized by the passiveentry system) is approaching the vehicle. The user may then actuate adesired function by stepping (or otherwise moving a foot or hand) at oron or in a manner that selects the appropriate projected icon. Thesensor is operable to detect the location of the user's foot at or nearthe icons (such as by determining when particular infrared signals orbeams or portions of infrared signals or beams or the like is/areinterrupted at or near the ground level) to determine which icon wasselected by the user, and may generate a control signal or outputaccordingly, whereby the selected function is performed. The systemoptionally, and desirably, generates a confirmation signal to the user(such as by a change in the color or intensity or size of the selectedicon or by flashing the selected icon or by an audible signal or thelike) to confirm to the user that the selection was made and recognizedby the system.

The present invention thus combines a projection light with an infraredsensor or camera (or other suitable sensor) to provide the driver oruser the ability to select and perform certain functions from outside ofthe vehicle, without having to use their hands (thus providinghands-free opening/closing of the vehicle doors and/or locking/unlockingof the vehicle doors and/or the like). The projection light module maybe disposed at the exterior mirror assemblies or at the lift gate handleor elsewhere at the sides and rear of the vehicle. The sensors may besimilarly disposed at the exterior mirror assemblies or at the lift gatehandle or elsewhere at the sides and rear of the vehicle (such as at thevehicle frame or the like). The vehicle functions can thus be activatedor controlled simply by a user (a recognized or authorized user)stepping on or otherwise stepping or moving in a manner that selects oneor more of the icons projected at the ground (or vehicle surface) at theside(s) and/or rear of the vehicle.

Optionally, the icons may be projected/illuminated only when the key fobis determined to be close enough to the respective door or icon, so thatif the user were at the driver side door, the driver side icons would beprojected at the ground by the vehicle (or at the vehicle surface) andthe passenger side icons would not be activated or projected orilluminated. Optionally, the icons may be otherwise projected at theside or rear of the vehicle, such as onto the door panel of the vehicleor the like, whereby the user may touch a desired projected icon toselect the desired function. Other projection of icons may be providedwhile remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, the controller of the projecting and sensing system may becoupled to or in communication with a vehicle control (such as a vehicleECU or body control module or the like), and may be linked to orresponsive to an authentication system, such as a passive entry systemor remote keyless entry system or the like. When activated, such as inresponse to the vehicle control and passive or keyless entry system(such as when the vehicle system determines the presence or approach oractivation of a key fob or the like), the icons are projected onto theground or vehicle surface or portion and the sensor or sensors is/areoperable to detect the presence or proximity of the user at a selectedone of the icons. The sensors may comprise a capacitive sensor or othersuitable proximity sensing device, whereby, when the user's foot entersa region or area above a respective icon, the presence of the user'sfoot effects the electric field generated by an electrode of the sensoror sensor portion associated with that icon, which results in a changein capacitance between the two electrodes of that sensor, whereby thesystem may determine the icon at which the user has selected andpositioned their foot at or near, such as by determining which sensor ofthe sensing module has the greatest change in capacitance. The sensorsand control may utilize aspects of the sensors described in U.S. Pat.No. 8,154,418, and/or International Publication Nos. WO 2011/044312; WO2012/051500 and/or WO 2013/071070, which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties

A projecting and sensing module in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention may comprise a self-contained unitary module disposedat the lift gate and/or exterior rearview mirror assemblies of thevehicle, whereby the icons are projected downwardly onto the ground (orvehicle surface) at or near the lift gate and/or side doors of thevehicle. The module may include a control or control circuitry that isoperable to control the projector or projectors that project the iconsand to control the sensors that sense the presence of the user at ornear the icons. The control circuitry may be operable to communicatewith a body control module to control a door actuator and/or a lockactuator and/or a window control of the vehicle, responsive to adetermination of a user's foot at or near a particular projected icon.

For example, and with reference to FIG. 8, a self-contained sensing andprojecting module 10 (such as for use at a lift gate or exterior mirror)includes projectors 12 and sensors 14 and a controller 16, which isoperable to communicate with a body control module 18 of the vehicle(such as via a vehicle data bus or the like). The body control module isin communication with a door actuator 20 and a lock actuator 22. Thus,responsive to a remote keyless entry function or unlocking of thevehicle door or the like, the body control module may determine that theuser is at or approaching the vehicle and may generate a signal to thecontroller, which may activate the projectors at the side mirror ormirrors or lift gate of the vehicle. The controller then processes dataor signals from the sensors and determines when a user's foot is at aparticular projected icon, and generates an appropriate output signal tocommunicate to the body control module to control the appropriate orselected accessory or function. For example, responsive to an outputsignal from the controller that is indicative of a determination of auser's foot at a door open/close icon, the body control module controlsthe door actuator to open or close that door. As shown in FIG. 11,multiple sensing and projecting modules 10 (such as a driver side mirrormodule, a passenger side mirror module and a lift gate module) may bedisposed at the vehicle and linked to the body control module 18, suchas via the vehicle data bus or the like.

Optionally, and such as shown in FIG. 9, the controller 16′ of a module10′ in accordance with aspects of the present invention may communicatewith the sensors 14′ and with the body control module 18′, while thebody control module 18′ generates a projector lamp control signaldirectly to the projectors 12′. Thus, responsive to an input indicativeof a user at the vehicle, the body control module may activate theprojectors of the module. Then, the sensor controller 16′ may processthe sensor outputs to determine when a user's foot is at or near aparticular one of the projected icons and generate an appropriate outputsignal. Responsive to the signals from the controller 16′ of the module10′, the body control module 18′ controls or generates signals tocontrol or open/close the appropriate or selected accessory or function.

Optionally, and such as shown in FIG. 10, a projecting and sensing liftgate/mirror module 10″ may not include a controller, whereby the sensor14″ and the projectors 12″ communicate directly with the body controlmodule 18″. Thus, the body control module determines when a user ispresent at the vehicle and actuates the projectors and the body controlmodule receives data or output signals from the sensors and processesthe data or signals to determine if a user's foot is present at or nearone of the projected icons, whereby the body control module may controlor open/close the appropriate or selected accessory or function.

Optionally, and such as shown in FIG. 12, multiple sensing andprojecting modules (such as a driver side mirror module, a passengerside mirror module and a lift gate module) may be disposed at thevehicle and linked to the body control module, such as via an HMI systemcontroller. The modules may link to the HMI system controller via thevehicle data bus or the like and/or the HMI system controller may linkto the body control module via the vehicle data bus or the like. The HMIsystem controller may process the signals from the body control modulefor control of the projectors and may process the signals from thesensors for communication to the body control module for control of theselected accessory or function.

Thus, a module and system in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention provides for projection of multiple icons (each indicating orassociated with a particular vehicle function) when the systemdetermines that a user is present at or approaching the vehicle, and themodule or system may then determine when the user's foot is at or near aparticular icon and may then actuate or control the accessory orfunction associated with that icon. For example, and such as shown inFIG. 13, a human machine interface (HMI) feedback control may beprovided in the module. As shown in FIG. 13, the passive entry system orkeyless entry system of the vehicle may determine that a user is at orapproaching the vehicle (such as via detection of a key fob or the like)and may generate a signal that is received by the body control module ofthe vehicle. Responsive to such a signal, the body control modulecommunicates to the projection HMI module or projecting and sensingmodule that the module is to be enabled, whereby the module activatesthe icons and sensor. When the user's foot is detected at or near aparticular icon (such as, for example, a slider door open/close icon),the module flashes the projected icon and generates a signal to the bodycontrol module to open the slider door. The body control module may thencommunicate with the passive entry or remote keyless entry system toauthenticate the fob (to verify that the user is authorized to open thevehicle door), whereby, responsive to such authentication, the module isdisabled (i.e., the icons and sensors are deactivated) and the sliderdoor is opened by the body control module.

Optionally, a feedback control function may be provided in the bodycontrol module. For example, and with reference to FIG. 14, the passiveentry system or keyless entry system of the vehicle may determine that auser is at or approaching the vehicle (such as via detection of a keyfob or the like) and may generate a signal that is received by the bodycontrol module of the vehicle. Responsive to such a signal, the bodycontrol module communicates to the projection HMI module or projectingand sensing module that the module is to be enabled, whereby the moduleis enabled. The body control module then communicates a signal to themodule to activate the icons, which are then activated. The module thenoperates to determine or sense the presence of a user's foot at one ofthe projected icons. When the user's foot is detected at or near aparticular icon (such as, for example, a slider door open/close icon),the module generates a signal to the body control module to open theslider door. The body control module may then communicate with thepassive entry or remote keyless entry system to authenticate the fob (toverify that the user is authorized to open the vehicle door), whereby,responsive to such authentication, the body control module sends acontrol signal to the projection module to flash the icon, whereby iconis flashed by the projection module, and then the body control modulesends a control signal to the projection module to deactivate the icons,whereby the icons are turned off, and then the body control module sendsa control signal to the projection module to deactivate the sensor,whereby the sensor is disabled. The slider door is then opened by thebody control module. Although shown and described as sequential actions,the flashing of the icon, deactivation of the icons, deactivation of thesensor and opening of the slider (or other control function) may beperformed simultaneously or in any order.

Thus, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides at leastone and preferably three projecting and sensing modules (such as at thevehicle lift gate and exterior mirrors), with each module being operableto project a plurality of icons onto a ground area or vehicle portion,such as responsive to a key fob or passive entry system of the vehicleor the like. The modules or system may determine when a user's foot isplaced at or near one of the projected icons and may activate ordeactivate or control the accessory or function associated with thatparticular icon. The system may include security measures toauthenticate the fob detection before opening a door or window of thevehicle.

Optionally, a projection module in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention may be operable to reconfigure the icons projectedonto the ground or vehicle panel, such as to show the current state ofthe accessory or function associated with the particular icon. Forexample, an icon representative of a door lock function may comprise alock icon or figure that is projected in a locked state when the vehicledoors are locked and may be reconfigured to be projected in an unlockedstate when the vehicle doors are unlocked. The reconfiguration of theprojected icons may be performed via any suitable means, such asselective projection of two or more icons for each function oraccessory. For example, a “door locked” icon may be backlit when thevehicle doors are locked and a separate “door unlocked” icon may bebacklit when the vehicle doors are unlocked. The associated icons may beprojected onto the same area, such that switching from one to the otherdoes not change the location of the projected icon, but changes theappearance of the icon at that location. Optionally, the same icon maybe backlit by a different colored light depending on the status of theassociated function or accessory (e.g., a red icon for a lockedcondition and a green icon for an unlocked condition). Optionally, theicon itself may be reconfigurable to provide the desired projected iconappearance when backlit by the respective illumination source.

Thus, a projection and sensing module in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention may be disposed at or in an exterior rearview mirrorof a vehicle and may include two or more projectors or projectiondevices and at least one sensor that is operable to sense the presenceof a person's foot at or near one of the projected icons at or near theground. For example, and with reference to FIGS. 15-18, a projection andsensing module 110 is disposed at a driver-side exterior rearview mirrorassembly 112 of a vehicle 114. As shown in FIG. 17, the module may bereceived in a lower portion of the mirror assembly, with a lower surfaceof the module generally matching the contours of the lower portion ofthe mirror casing. As best shown in FIG. 18, the module 110 includes ahousing or enclosure 116, which houses or supports two projectiondevices 118 a, 118 b and two sensing devices 120 a, 120 b (andoptionally the module may include more sensing devices and moreprojection devices depending on the particular application of themodule).

In the illustrated embodiment, the projection devices 118 a, 118 b ofthe module 110 are operable to project respective icons 119 a, 119 bgenerally downward through apertures 122 of the housing and towards theground at the side of the vehicle, with one icon 119 a representing theside slider door of the vehicle and the other icon 119 b representingthe rear lift gate of the vehicle. The sensing devices 120 a, 120 b maycomprise any suitable sensing device, such as a laser sensing device ortime of flight (TOF) sensing device or the like, which has an emittingportion and a receiving portion, with the emitting and receivingportions disposed at respective apertures 124 at the housing. As can beseen with reference to FIG. 18, the projection devices and sensordevices are arranged and angled relative to one another so that eachsensor is directed towards the icon projected by the respectiveprojecting device (and not directed towards the other projected icon).Thus, during operation, the projection devices 118 a, 118 b, whenactivated, project the respective icons downward at the ground at theside of the vehicle and the sensors operate to determine when a person'sfoot is present at or near one of the projected icons, whereby,responsive to such a determination, an appropriate signal is generatedto control the accessory or feature (such as opening/closing the sideslider door or rear lift gate of the vehicle) associated with the iconat which the foot was detected.

Optionally, the projecting and sensing module may have a camera or imagesensing device as its sensor, whereby only one sensor may be used tomonitor and detect activity at two or more projected icon (such as viaimage processing of image data captured by the camera via an imageprocessor of a control unit of the module or of the vehicle). Forexample, and with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, a projection and sensingmodule 110′ may be disposed at a driver-side exterior rearview mirrorassembly 112′ of a vehicle 114′, with the module being received in alower portion of the mirror assembly, with the lower surface of themodule generally matching the contours of the lower portion of themirror casing. As best shown in FIG. 20, the module 110′ includes ahousing or enclosure 116′, which houses or supports two projectiondevices 118 a′, 118 b′ (and optionally the module may include moreprojection devices depending on the particular application of themodule) and a single sensing device 120′, which may comprise a singleimage-based sensing device or camera or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the projection devices 118 a′, 118 b′ ofthe module 110′ are operable to project respective icons 119 a′, 119 b′generally downward through apertures 122′ of the housing and towards theground at the side of the vehicle, with one icon 119 a′ representing theside slider door of the vehicle and the other icon 119 b′ representingthe rear lift gate of the vehicle. The sensing device 120 is disposed atthe housing and views through an aperture 124′ at the housing, such thatthe field of view of the sensing device or camera encompasses the groundarea at which the icons are projected. Thus, during operation, theprojection devices 118 a′, 118 b′, when activated, project therespective icons downward at the ground at the side of the vehicle andthe sensor or camera captures image data representative of the groundarea and projected icons, whereby an image processor processes thecaptured image data to determine when a person's foot is present at ornear one of the projected icons, whereby, responsive to such adetermination, an appropriate signal is generated to control theaccessory or feature (such as opening/closing the side slider door orrear lift gate of the vehicle) associated with the icon at which thefoot was detected.

Optionally, the illumination module or modules (such as a module at therear of the vehicle and a module at each side of the vehicle) mayprovide a dual function and is operable to provide a light projectionfunction (such as projection of white or non-white light, such as aselected color or such as a variable color or the like to optionallycoordinate with an interior color scheme of the vehicle or the like)with one (or more) light emitting diode (or other suitable light source)and a ground illumination function (such as via one or more whitelight-emitting light emitting diodes or other suitable light source).For example, the modules may utilize aspects of the illumination andprojection light modules described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,801,245 and/orU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/615,821, filed Feb. 6, 2015 andpublished Aug. 13, 2015 as U.S. Publication No. US-2015-0224919, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Theillumination module comprises a self-contained unitary sealed modulewith light emitting diodes and a lens/light guiding element to providethe desired illumination effect with the illumination source orillumination sources.

The illumination or projection and sensing module thus may comprise asmall, self-contained module that includes a housing that substantiallyencases the illumination source and sensors and circuitry of the module.The housing and/or cover attached thereto includes an outer wall thatmay substantially correspond to the contours of the mirror assembly ordoor handle assembly or lift gate handle or trim at the module such thatthe outer vehicle surface has a substantially continuous outer surfaceor wall at the module. The module and housing may be substantiallysealed so as to be substantially impervious to water, dirt, debris andthe like, so that the module is well suited for the exterior applicationat the vehicle exterior rearview mirror or vehicle lift gate or thelike.

As discussed above, the illumination module may include at least oneillumination source or light source (such as a light emitting diode(LED) or electroluminescence light source or the like) that is operableto emit illumination, such as in response to a triggering or activatingdevice or event. The light is projected through an icon mask or indiciaso as to project the icon onto the ground or vehicle portion at whichthe light is directed. For example, the illumination source may beactuatable in response to at least one of a touch of the door handle, amovement of the strap or handle portion, actuation of a remote keylessentry module, or passive entry device, a motion detection at thevehicle, an insertion of a key into a keyhole at the door handle, and/oractivation or deactivation or operation of a security system of thevehicle. Preferably, the illumination source is deactuatable following aperiod of time after actuation of the illumination source and/oractuation of an accessory or function in response to a determination ofthe user stepping at or on the icon or in a manner that otherwiseactivates the accessory or function. Optionally, the light module and/orillumination source or sources may have a dimming control feature orfunction, such that the illumination source, when activated, is rampedup or progressively powered up to its full illumination state, and whendeactivated, is ramped down or dimmed or progressively powered down toits deactivated state.

The illumination source may comprise any suitable illumination source,such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), such as whitelight-emitting LEDs or high intensity power LEDs (such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,195,381 and/or 6,690,268, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties) or organic lightemitting diodes (OLEDs) or electroluminescent light sources or one ormore lasers or the like. The illumination source may comprise asubstantially white light-emitting illumination source, or may comprisea colored light-emitting illumination source (or a white light-emittingillumination source may emit light that passes through a color filter orthe like) to provide color illumination (such as blue or other color asdesired) at the vehicle side area depending on the particularapplication of the illumination module. For example, the illuminationmodule may emit or transmit colored light that may match or correspondto the interior and/or exterior lighting of the particular vehicle towhich the illumination module is mounted.

The illumination module may provide a cover and icon film or templatethat provides a display of a vehicle logo or the like (or any othervehicle logo or brand name or custom display icon or the like). Thus,the illumination modules may provide a back lit icon or indicia or logoor emblem to provide enhanced ground illumination at the side of avehicle. The icon or indicia or logo or emblem may comprise the vehiclemanufacturer logo or the like, or may comprise a selected icon orindicia or logo, such as may be selected by the owner of the vehicle.For example, the owner of the vehicle may select a module having adesired icon or indicia or logo element or optic and the selectedillumination module may be installed in the vehicle door handle and/ormirror assembly (or elsewhere on the vehicle, such as at or on or in thevehicle door or at or on or in a side panel of the vehicle or the like)to provide the customized or personalized ground illumination function.Such a selection and installation of the illumination module may beperformed during manufacturing of the vehicle or as an aftermarketchange to the vehicle. The icon illumination module thus may provide apersonalized or customized illumination at the side of the vehicle, suchas by utilizing aspects of the systems and assemblies described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,626,749; 7,255,451 and/or 7,289,037, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, and desirably, the cover and/or housing may be overmoldedover the illumination source or sources and circuitry to provide asubstantially sealed and substantially water impervious illuminationmodule. For example, the housing may be overmolded over and around ametal stamping or stamped circuit element or plate with the illuminationsource or sources (such as LEDs or the like) fastened thereto orotherwise established thereon, or the housing may be overmolded over andaround a printed circuit board or element with the illumination sourcesestablished thereon.

Optionally, an illumination and sensing module or unit may comprisemultiple sensors and multiple illumination sources, which may projecticons onto the ground or may backlight or illuminate icons at thevehicle. For example, and such as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, a module 210includes projectors 212 and sensors 214 and a controller, which isoperable to communicate with a body control module of the vehicle (suchas via a vehicle data bus or the like), such as described above. Thebody control module is in communication with a door actuator and a lockactuator of the vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, the module 210comprises an elongated body or housing or construction 216 that isdisposed at a lower rocker panel of a vehicle or at a bumper of avehicle or the like. The elongated body 216 is received in the vehiclestructure so that the projecting ports and sensing ports may align withports or light transmitting portions or apertures of the vehiclestructure. The module 210 may otherwise be similar to the devices andmodules and systems described above, such that a detailed discussion ofthe illumination and sensing modules need not be repeated herein.

Optionally, the illumination and sensing module or unit may operate tobacklight icons established at the vehicle structure or housing of themodule, such that the icons are (when backlit by the illuminationsources of the module) visible at the vehicle structure. For example,and with reference to FIGS. 23-29, a module 310 includes illuminationmodules or devices or icon display modules or devices 312 and sensors314 and a controller, which is operable to communicate with a bodycontrol module of the vehicle (such as via a vehicle data bus or thelike), such as described above. The body control module is incommunication with a door actuator and a lock actuator of the vehicle.The module is configured to be disposed at a lower rocker panel of avehicle or at a bumper of a vehicle or the like, such as shown in FIG.23.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 23-29, the module comprises anelongated body or housing or construction 316 that is configured to bedisposed at and part of the lower rocker panel of the vehicle, with anouter wall or portion 316 a of the housing 316 having translucent ortransparent regions that allow the illumination devices 312 to backlightrespective icons or masks at the outer wall or portion of the housing,such that the backlit icons (when the illumination sources areactivated) are viewable and discernible at the vehicle rocker panel to aperson viewing the vehicle rocker panel at a side region adjacent to thevehicle (such as shown in FIG. 29). The sensors are disposed at or nearthe respective icons and are directed generally downwardly towards theground at the side region adjacent to the vehicle, such that, when theicons are backlit, a user may place his or her foot at the ground areagenerally at or beneath the appropriate or selected icon to actuate thedesired feature (such as door lock/unlock or open/close function or thelike). When the illumination sources are deactivated, the icons are notbacklit and thus may not be readily viewable at the rocker panel (or maybe less viewable as compared to when they are backlit).

In the illustrated embodiment, and as best shown in FIG. 28, theillumination devices or icon display modules or devices 312 are disposedbehind the upper and outer wall 316 a of the rocker panel or housing316. The illumination device 312 includes one or more light emittingdiodes (LEDs) 312 a disposed at a circuit element or board or PCB 312 b,whereby the illumination devices 312 are disposed at the housing orpanel 316 with an icon or mask 313 established at the housing andgenerally at where the illumination device is located. Thus, when theLEDs 312 a are activated, light emitted by the LEDs backlights the iconmask 313 so that the icon is viewable at the rocker panel 316 below thelower outer side door surface.

As also best shown in FIG. 28, the sensing device or sensor 314 isdisposed at a lower wall or panel 316 b of rocker panel 316 (such as atan aperture at the lower panel) and is directed generally downwardly andsidewardly towards a ground region at or near the side of the vehicle.The sensor 314 is operable to sense or detect the presence of a user'sfoot that may be positioned at or near the ground below the sensor andits respective or associated icon. The illumination device or module 312and the foot sensor 314 may operate in a similar manner as discussedabove, such that a detailed discussion of the illumination device andsensor and sensing system need not be repeated herein. Because theillumination device and sensor (and optionally the control/interface315, such as shown in FIG. 26) are integral with a rocker panel portion316, the icon display and sensing device or module or system of thepresent invention may be readily installed or incorporated into avehicle construction or structure. Optionally, a module or unit (such assimilar to that of FIG. 22 may be disposed in and behind a vehicle panel(such as a rocker panel), with the icons and/or illumination sourcesdisposed behind respective translucent or light transmitting portions ofthe vehicle panel and with the sensors disposed at respective aperturesor light transmitting portions of a lower portion of the vehicle panel.Similarly, an icon display and sensor may be integrated into or disposedbehind a rear bumper portion of a vehicle to provide a backlit iconisticdisplay at a rear or upper wall or portion of the bumper, with thesensors sensing a user's foot that is placed below the respective sensorand icon, such as in a similar manner as discussed above.

Optionally, the control system may be operable to determine when a footis present and may provide a confirmation signal to the user to confirmthat the foot was detected. The system may signal the user when the footis detected, and may only activate the associated function after thefoot is determined to be present for a threshold period of time. Forexample, and with reference to FIG. 30, a sensing system may be enabledand may illuminate the icons (such as via backlighting or projecting theicons), whereby the sensing system operates to sense the areas beneaththe icons to determine when a foot is present at the sensing area. Ifthe foot is determined to be present, the system may provide aconfirmation signal, such as honking the vehicle's horn or flashinglights or the like, and may start a confirmation timer to determine ifthe foot remains present at the sensing area for a threshold period oftime (such as at least about two seconds or thereabouts). If the foot isnot present for the threshold time period, the confirm mode is canceledand the system continues to check for the presence of a user's foot atthe sensing areas. If the foot is present for the threshold period oftime, then the system may generate an action confirmed signal (such ashonking the vehicle's horn or flashing lights or the like), and may thenperform the selected action or function (such as locking or unlocking avehicle door or opening or closing a slider door or lift gate or thelike). After the selected or appropriate action or function iscompleted, the system may enter a standby mode.

Thus, an illumination and sensing device or module in accordance withaspects of the present invention comprises a small illumination deviceor module that is disposed at an exterior rearview mirror or vehiclelift gate or vehicle rocker panel, and is operable to backlight an iconat the panel or backlight or project an icon or image towards a groundarea at or near the side or rear of the vehicle. The illumination orbacklighting intensity may be low enough to provide a glow at the logoor icon or beacon, yet high enough to be seen or discerned in highambient or daytime lighting conditions. Optionally, the backlightingintensity may be controlled or adjusted or varied, such as in responseto an ambient light sensor, so that the backlighting intensity isincreased during daytime lighting conditions and decreased or activatedat a reduced intensity during nighttime lighting conditions. The modulemay include multiple illumination devices and a corresponding number ofsensing devices for sensing the presence of a user's foot at the groundarea associated with the respective illumination devices. The system maydelay actuation of the function until the system determines that thefoot is present for a threshold amount of time (to limit orsubstantially preclude erroneous activation of the functions when auser's foot or other object passes over the sensed ground area). Thesystem may provide confirmation signals (such as visual signals oraudible signals) to the user to confirm to the user that the foot issensed and/or that the foot is sensed for the threshold period of time.

The illumination module may provide the desired lighting function viaany suitable means. For example, the illumination module may be disposedat an exterior mirror assembly or vehicle rocker panel and may projecticons onto the ground or onto a structure or panel of the vehicle (andmay project smaller and brighter icons to enhance visibility of theicons at the ground area during daytime lighting conditions). Theillumination module may project light via one or more light emittingdiodes or lasers, and the mask or optic may comprise any suitable maskor optic for projecting the desired icon or indicia at the ground orpanel of the vehicle. For example, the optic may comprise a tailoredfreeform lens or optic, with an LED or laser emitting light therethrough(such as by utilizing aspects of the light modules described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/615,821, filed Feb. 6, 2015 and publishedAug. 13, 2015 as U.S. Publication No. US-2015-0224919, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety), or the optic maycomprise a diffracting optical element (DOE) with one or more LEDs or alaser emitting light therethrough (where, for example, the module mayproject a dimmer icon and one very bright dot with one laser, and theDOE would allow for the location of the icon to be seen during brighterlighting conditions without requiring a high-powered laser) or the like.

Optionally, the system may project or emit a beam or beams of light ontoicons established at the vehicle (such as icons painted or molded at thevehicle rocker panel or bumper or the like, which would be visibleduring daytime lighting conditions and illuminated at nighttime lightingconditions via one or more light sources or LEDs), or the system mayinclude modules disposed at the rocker panel or the like that backlighticons so that the backlit icons are viewable at the vehicle rocker panelor the like. Optionally, in order to enhance visibility of the projectedicons during daylight conditions, the module may project icons onto theground and may include a laser that emits a narrow beam of higherintensity light at the ground where the icons are projected (oroptionally, only the laser beams are emitted during daytime lightingconditions), and optionally the appropriate laser beam may flash toprovide the confirmation feedback that the function associated with anicon was selected and actuated.

Optionally, a dual or 2-in-1 projection light module (capable ofprojecting an icon and other illumination at the ground area) may beused that projects the icon at the ground and uses otherwise unusedlight from the light source to create a small bright dot at the ground(such as at the center of each icon) that could be seen in brighter ordaytime lighting conditions, with the module including lenses andreflectors that emit the light beams and icons in the desired pattern(such as by utilizing aspects of the light modules described in U.S.Pat. No. 8,801,245 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/615,821,filed Feb. 6, 2015 and published Aug. 13, 2015 as U.S. Publication No.US-2015-0224919, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties). Thus, using aspects of the light modules described inU.S. Pat. No. 8,801,245 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/615,821, the light emitted by the light source or LED or the like maybe focused to provide a bright dot at or near the projected icon(instead of using the light to provide ground illumination around theprojected icon). This could be achieved using two separate light sourcesor LEDs or a single light source or LED, depending on the lenses andreflectors used in the module.

Optionally, the illumination modules and/or an exterior rearview mirrorassemblies of the vehicle may incorporate a blind spot indicator deviceor element and/or a turn signal indicator device or element, such as byutilizing aspects of the devices described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,786,704;8,058,977; 7,944,371; 7,492,281; 6,198,409; 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.The signal indicator or indication module may include or utilize aspectsof various light modules or systems or devices, such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,581,859; 6,227,689; 6,582,109; 5,371,659;5,497,306; 5,669,699; 5,823,654; 6,176,602 and/or 6,276,821, and/orInternational Publication No. WO 2006/124682, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, theexterior rearview mirror assembly may include a wide angle reflector ator integral with the reflective element, such as by utilizing aspects ofthe elements described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,786,704; 7,748,856;7,255,451; 7,195,381; 6,717,712; 7,126,456; 6,315,419; 7,097,312 and/or6,522,451, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for generating an output forcontrolling a vehicular function of a vehicle, the method comprising:providing a vehicular sensing device comprising (i) at least oneillumination source operable to backlight a plurality of icons at acover element, wherein each icon of the plurality of icons isrepresentative of a respective vehicular function of the vehicle, and(ii) a plurality of sensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensorshaving a respective field of sensing associated with a respective iconof the plurality of icons; disposing the vehicular sensing device at thevehicle; providing a controller at the vehicle; with the vehicularsensing device disposed at the vehicle, activating the at least oneillumination source to backlight the plurality of icons at the coverelement responsive to a passive entry system or keyless entry system ofthe vehicle; wherein, with the vehicular sensing device disposed at thevehicle, and with the at least one illumination source activated tobacklight the plurality of icons, the backlit plurality of icons areviewable at an exterior portion of the vehicle; with the vehicularsensing device disposed at the vehicle, and with the at least oneillumination source activated to backlight the plurality of icons at thecover element, sensing via the sensors proximity or movement of aperson's hand or foot in a field of sensing of one of the sensors; andwith the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, and with theat least one illumination source activated to backlight the plurality oficons at the cover element, and responsive to sensing by one of thesensors of proximity or movement of the person's hand or foot in thefield of sensing of that sensor, generating via the controller an outputto control the vehicular function of the vehicle that is represented bythe respective backlit icon associated with that sensor.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the vehicular sensing device comprises a housing,and wherein the at least one illumination source and the plurality ofsensors are housed by the housing.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theat least one illumination source comprises a plurality of light emittingdiodes, and wherein each light emitting diode of the plurality of lightemitting diodes is operable to backlight a respective icon of theplurality of icons.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein, with thevehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, and with the at leastone illumination source activated to backlight the plurality of icons,the backlit plurality of icons are viewable at the exterior portion ofthe vehicle above the fields of sensing of the respective sensors. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein, with the vehicular sensing devicedisposed at the vehicle, and with the at least one illumination sourceactivated to backlight the plurality of icons, the backlit plurality oficons are viewable at an upper exterior portion of the vehicle and thefields of sensing of the sensors are below the respective backlit icons.6. The method of claim 1, wherein, with the vehicular sensing devicedisposed at the vehicle, and with the at least one illumination sourceactivated to backlight the plurality of icons, the backlit plurality oficons are viewable at an upper exterior portion of the vehicle and thefields of sensing of the sensors are directed downward toward the groundbelow the respective backlit icons.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein,with the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, and with theat least one illumination source activated to backlight the plurality oficons, the fields of sensing of the sensors are directed downward towardthe ground below the respective backlit icons.
 8. The method of claim 1,comprising communicating the output to a body control module of thevehicle responsive to sensing by one of the sensors of proximity ormovement of the person's hand or foot in the field of sensing of thatsensor.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is part of abody control module of the vehicle.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereinthe controller is part of the vehicular sensing device.
 11. The methodof claim 1, wherein one of the icons of the plurality of icons isassociated with a vehicle door opening function of the vehicle andanother of the icons of the plurality of icons is associated with avehicle door closing function of the vehicle.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein one of the icons of the plurality of icons is associated with avehicle door locking function of the vehicle and another of the icons ofthe plurality of icons is associated with a vehicle door unlockingfunction of the vehicle.
 13. The method of claim 1, comprisingdeactivating via the controller the at least one illumination source.14. The method of claim 1, comprising flashing the at least oneillumination source responsive to sensing proximity or movement of aperson's hand or foot in the field of sensing of one of the sensors. 15.The method of claim 1, wherein the cover element comprises an exteriorvehicle panel at the exterior portion of the vehicle.
 16. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the cover element comprises light-transmissive regions,and wherein, with the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle,and with the at least one illumination source activated, light emittedby the at least one illumination source passes through thelight-transmissive regions so as to be viewable at the exterior portionof the vehicle.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the exterior portionof the vehicle comprises a bumper of the vehicle, and wherein, with thevehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, the at least oneillumination source backlights the plurality of icons for viewing at thebumper of the vehicle and the sensors sense proximity or movement of theperson's hand or foot below the bumper of the vehicle.
 18. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the exterior portion of the vehicle comprises a rockerpanel of the vehicle, and wherein, with the vehicular sensing devicedisposed at the vehicle, the at least one illumination source backlightsthe plurality of icons for viewing at the rocker panel of the vehicleand the sensors sense proximity or movement of the person's hand or footbelow the rocker panel of the vehicle.
 19. The method of claim 1,wherein the exterior portion of the vehicle comprises an exterior mirrorassembly of the vehicle, and wherein, with the vehicular sensing devicedisposed at the vehicle, the at least one illumination source backlightsthe plurality of icons for viewing at the exterior mirror assembly ofthe vehicle and the sensors sense proximity or movement of the person'shand or foot below the exterior mirror assembly of the vehicle.
 20. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the exterior portion of the vehicle comprisesa door handle of the vehicle, and wherein, with the vehicular sensingdevice disposed at the vehicle, the at least one illumination sourcebacklights the plurality of icons for viewing at the door handle of thevehicle and the sensors sense the proximity or movement of the person'shand or foot below the door handle of the vehicle.
 21. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the exterior portion of the vehicle comprises a panelof the vehicle, and wherein, with the vehicular sensing device disposedat the vehicle, at least one of the at least one illumination source andthe plurality of sensors is disposed behind the panel of the vehicle.22. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination source,when activated, backlights a logo icon at the cover element, and whereinthe logo icon comprises at least one selected from the group consistingof (i) a vehicle logo and (ii) a brand name.
 23. The method of claim 1,wherein the at least one illumination source, when activated, backlightsa customized icon at the cover element.
 24. The method of claim 23,wherein the customized icon is selected by an owner of the vehicle. 25.The method of claim 1, wherein, with the vehicular sensing devicedisposed at the vehicle, each sensor of the plurality of sensors has therespective field of sensing directed towards the ground.
 26. A methodfor generating an output for controlling a vehicular function of avehicle, the method comprising: providing a vehicular sensing devicecomprising (i) at least one illumination source operable to backlight aplurality of icons at a cover element, wherein each icon of theplurality of icons is representative of a respective vehicular functionof the vehicle, and (ii) a plurality of sensors, each sensor of theplurality of sensors having a respective field of sensing associatedwith a respective icon of the plurality of icons; disposing thevehicular sensing device at the vehicle; providing a controller at thevehicle; with the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle,activating the at least one illumination source to backlight theplurality of icons at the cover element responsive to a passive entrysystem or keyless entry system of the vehicle; wherein, with thevehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, the fields of sensingof the sensors are directed downward toward the ground below therespective icons; wherein the cover element comprises an exteriorvehicle panel at an exterior portion of the vehicle, and wherein, withthe vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, and with the atleast one illumination source activated to backlight the icons, thebacklit plurality of icons are viewable at the exterior portion of thevehicle outside the fields of sensing of the respective sensors; withthe vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, and with the atleast one illumination source activated to backlight the plurality oficons at the cover element, sensing via the sensors proximity ormovement of a person's hand or foot in a field of sensing of one of thesensors; with the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, andwith the at least one illumination source activated to backlight theplurality of icons at the cover element, and responsive to sensing byone of the sensors of proximity or movement of the person's hand or footin the field of sensing of that sensor, generating via the controller anoutput to control the vehicular function of the vehicle that isrepresented by the respective backlit icon associated with that sensor;and wherein (i) one of the icons of the plurality of icons is associatedwith a vehicle door opening function of the vehicle or a vehicle doorunlocking function of the vehicle and (ii) another of the icons of theplurality of icons is associated with a vehicle door closing function ofthe vehicle or a vehicle door locking function of the vehicle.
 27. Themethod of claim 26, wherein the at least one illumination sourcecomprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, and wherein each lightemitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes is operable tobacklight a respective icon of the plurality of icons.
 28. The method ofclaim 26, comprising communicating the output to a body control moduleof the vehicle responsive to sensing by one of the sensors of proximityor movement of the person's hand or foot in the field of sensing of thatsensor.
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the controller is part of abody control module of the vehicle.
 30. The method of claim 26, whereinthe controller is part of the vehicular sensing device.
 31. The methodof claim 26, wherein the vehicular sensing device comprises a housing,and wherein the at least one illumination source and the plurality ofsensors are housed by the housing.
 32. The method of claim 26, whereinthe exterior portion of the vehicle comprises a bumper of the vehicle,and wherein, with the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle,the at least one illumination source backlights the plurality of iconsfor viewing at the bumper of the vehicle and the sensors sense proximityor movement of the person's hand or foot below the bumper of thevehicle.
 33. The method of claim 26, wherein the exterior portion of thevehicle comprises a rocker panel of the vehicle, and wherein, with thevehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, the at least oneillumination source backlights the plurality of icons for viewing at therocker panel of the vehicle and the sensors sense proximity or movementof the person's hand or foot below the rocker panel of the vehicle. 34.The method of claim 26, wherein the exterior portion of the vehiclecomprises an exterior mirror assembly of the vehicle, and wherein, withthe vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, the at least oneillumination source backlights the plurality of icons for viewing at theexterior mirror assembly of the vehicle and the sensors sense proximityor movement of the person's hand or foot below the exterior mirrorassembly of the vehicle.
 35. The method of claim 26, wherein theexterior portion of the vehicle comprises a door handle of the vehicle,and wherein, with the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle,the at least one illumination source backlights the plurality of iconsfor viewing at the door handle of the vehicle and the sensors sense theproximity or movement of the person's hand or foot below the door handleof the vehicle.
 36. A method for generating an output for controlling avehicular function of a vehicle, the method comprising: providing avehicular sensing device comprising (i) a plurality of light emittingdiodes each operable to backlight a respective icon of a plurality oficons, wherein each icon of the plurality of icons is representative ofa respective vehicular function of the vehicle, and (ii) a plurality ofsensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensors having a respectivefield of sensing associated with a respective icon of the plurality oficons; disposing the vehicular sensing device at the vehicle; providinga controller at the vehicle; with the vehicular sensing device disposedat the vehicle, activating the plurality of light emitting diodes tobacklight the plurality of icons responsive to a passive entry system orkeyless entry system of the vehicle; wherein, with the vehicular sensingdevice disposed at the vehicle, and with the plurality of light emittingdiodes activated to backlight the plurality of icons, the backlitplurality of icons are viewable at an exterior portion of the vehicle;with the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, and with theplurality of light emitting diodes activated to backlight the pluralityof icons, sensing via the sensors proximity or movement of a person'shand or foot in a field of sensing of one of the sensors; and with thevehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, and with the pluralityof light emitting diodes activated to backlight the plurality of icons,and responsive to sensing by one of the sensors of proximity or movementof the person's hand or foot in the field of sensing of that sensor,generating via the controller an output to control the vehicularfunction of the vehicle that is represented by the respective backliticon associated with that sensor.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein,with the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, and with theplurality of light emitting diodes activated to backlight the pluralityof icons, the fields of sensing of the sensors are directed downwardtoward the ground below the respective backlit icons.
 38. The method ofclaim 36, comprising communicating the output to a body control moduleof the vehicle responsive to sensing by one of the sensors of proximityor movement of the person's hand or foot in the field of sensing of thatsensor.
 39. The method of claim 36, wherein the controller is part of abody control module of the vehicle.
 40. The method of claim 36, whereinthe controller is part of the vehicular sensing device.
 41. The methodof claim 36, wherein one of the icons of the plurality of icons isassociated with a vehicle door opening function of the vehicle andanother of the icons of the plurality of icons is associated with avehicle door closing function of the vehicle.
 42. The method of claim36, wherein one of the icons of the plurality of icons is associatedwith a vehicle door locking function of the vehicle and another of theicons of the plurality of icons is associated with a vehicle doorunlocking function of the vehicle.
 43. The method of claim 36, whereinthe vehicular sensing device comprises a housing, and wherein theplurality of light emitting diodes and the plurality of sensors arehoused by the housing.
 44. The method of claim 36, wherein the exteriorportion of the vehicle comprises a bumper of the vehicle, and wherein,with the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, the pluralityof light emitting diodes backlights the plurality of icons for viewingat the bumper of the vehicle and the sensors sense proximity or movementof the person's hand or foot below the bumper of the vehicle.
 45. Themethod of claim 36, wherein the exterior portion of the vehiclecomprises a rocker panel of the vehicle, and wherein, with the vehicularsensing device disposed at the vehicle, the plurality of light emittingdiodes backlights the plurality of icons for viewing at the rocker panelof the vehicle and the sensors sense proximity or movement of theperson's hand or foot below the rocker panel of the vehicle.
 46. Themethod of claim 36, wherein the exterior portion of the vehiclecomprises an exterior mirror assembly of the vehicle, and wherein, withthe vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle, the plurality oflight emitting diodes backlights the plurality of icons for viewing atthe exterior mirror assembly of the vehicle and the sensors senseproximity or movement of the person's hand or foot below the exteriormirror assembly of the vehicle.
 47. The method of claim 36, wherein theexterior portion of the vehicle comprises a door handle of the vehicle,and wherein, with the vehicular sensing device disposed at the vehicle,the plurality of light emitting diodes backlights the plurality of iconsfor viewing at the door handle of the vehicle and the sensors sense theproximity or movement of the person's hand or foot below the door handleof the vehicle.